Your guinea pig needs lots of exercise to keep him healthy and happy especially since pigs are prone to obesity. Since your guinea pig spends most of his life in his cage, you need to make it a fun place to be. Give your pig ramps to climb on and tunnels to run through. Don’t make the ramps too steep or your pig could injure his back. Some pigs enjoy pushing balls around the cage. However, don’t add so many items that it makes it difficult to move around freely. Plan on at least a half hour exercise session outside the cage daily. Let your guinea pig explore your home and run around. Protect him from falls. Always supervise your guinea pig while he is outside the cage. Guinea pig wheels and balls are not recommended since the angle is too severe for your pigs back. For more information, contact your Tipp City, OH veterinarian.

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Mice are fun and intelligent pets and can be taught a number of fun tricks. Teaching your mouse to stand up and beg is a great beginning trick. Ensure that your mouse is comfortable with you. Sit by his cage and talk or sing softly to him. Drape your hand in the cage for your mouse to explore. And try hand feeding him. Once you are ready to start training, keep sessions short and fun. Use a food treat such as unsweetened oat loop cereal. Hold the treat in front of your mouse and raise it up and over his head so he has to stand up on his hind legs to follow it. Say the UP command. Once your mouse approximates a begging position, give him the treat. Practice this often and delay giving him the treat so it really looks like he is begging. Learn more from your pet clinic Cy-Fair.

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Your cat’s whiskers are thick, specialized hairs that are connected to sensitive nerves. These whiskers give your cat a greater ability to navigate through her world. Your cat’s whiskers grow to roughly the width of her body. Thus your cat can tell whether she can fit through small spaces. If your cat’s head and whiskers fit through the space, the rest of her body will fit too. The whiskers help your cat judge distance and height so she can gracefully jump from place to place without falling. Your cat uses her whiskers to pick up vibrations to determine the location of prey such a mice or even your foot in the dark. Never cut your cat’s whiskers since this will cause confusion and disorientation. Old whiskers will fall out to be replaced by new ones without your intervention. Ask your vet Cy-Fair to learn more.

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Dogs that beg for food will do so because it works. Your dog begs and you give him food. Thus the first step in keeping your dog from begging is to stop giving him food when he begs. Make sure that all household members follow this rule too. Insist that your dog sit or lie down while you are eating so he is below the table level. You may even have to move your dog across the room or to another room while he is learning. Consider feeding your dog his food in his own bowl while you are eating so he gets to eat but without the begging. Never yell at your dog or punish him while he is learning. Praise your dog with enthusiasm and food treats whenever your dog makes it through a meal without begging. Consult your vet Cy-Fair to learn more.